Grand Annual

The Grand Annual Chase is the oldest race at the Festival having first been staged on 4th April 1834 over 4 miles of open country at Andoversford, near Cheltenham. Although that race was discontinued in the 1860s, it was revived in the early 1900s, although it was staged at various courses, notably Warwick, Melton Mowbray and Leicester. It was only in 1913 that it returned permanently to Cheltenham and has been a significant part of the Festival ever since. It is run over 1 mile 7 furlongs and 199 yards and 14 fences and is now classed as a Premier Handicap. In 2005 its name was updated to the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase in recognition of the part played by Johnny Henderson, father of legendary trainer Nicky Henderson, in forming the Racecourse Holdings Trust which secured the future of Cheltenham by purchasing the Prestbury Park venue for £240,000.

Early history:- The inaugural running of Grand Annual Chase took place on April 4 1834 at Andoversford, in the vicinity of Cheltenham when won by Fugleman owned by Mr R D’Oyley beating Conrad owned by Colonel Gilbert.

Grand Annual 2022 Premier Handicap 2 miles
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 GLOBAL CITIZEN Kielan Woods Ben Pauling The Megsons 28/1
2 ANDY DUFRESNE Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott (Ire) Mr John P McManus 100/30 fav
3 FRERO BANBOU Charlie Deutsch Venetia Williams Mr P Davies 6/1
4 EDITEUR DU GITE Jamie Moore Gary Moore Preston Family & Friends 15/2
5 AMARILLO SKY Brendan Powell Colin Tizzard Romans, Taylor, O'Dwyer 5/1
6 HASANKEY Lewis Dobb L J Morgan Hanky Panky Partnership 33/1
7 EMBITTERED Brian Cooper Joseph Patrick O'Brien (Ire) Gigginstown House Stud 12/1
8 IL RIDOTO Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls Giles, Hogarth, Mason, McGaff 18/1
9 A WAVE OF THE SEA Shane Fitzgerald Joseph Patrick O'Brien (Ire) Mr John P McManus 25/1
10 DANCING ON MY OWN Darragh O'Keeffe Henry De Bromhead (Ire) Sean & Bernadine Mulryan 33/1
11 SKY PIRATE Nick Schofield Jonjo O'Neill Martin Tedham & Wasdell 14/1
12 POSEIDON Danny Mullins C Byrnes (Ire) Mr Martin White 66/1
13 FOR PLEASURE Harry Bannister Alex Hales Premier Plastering 7/1
14 GUMBALL Paddy Brennan Fergal O'Brien (Ire) Mr Terry Warner 14/1
15 ELIXIR DE NUTZ Jonjo O'Neill Colin Tizzard Mr Terry Warner 14/1
16 EXIT POLL Sean O'Keeffe Jessica Harrington (Ire) Omega Racing 66/1

Won by 3 lengths and 3 lengths

Over round 128%

The 2022 Grand Annual was held on Wednesday 16th March 2022